Breaking: Salisbury man fatally shoots woman while hunting, police say, tell me about this news in (https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/delaware/2026/09/19/salisbury-man-fatally-shoots-woman-while-hunting-police-say-breaking/91849245007/)

On Friday evening, September 18, 2026, a fatal hunting incident occurred in Ellendale, Delaware, involving a hunter from Salisbury, Maryland.

Key Details of the Incident

• The Incident: At around 7:40 p.m., Delaware State Police responded to reports of a shooting in an open field near South Old State Road, north of East Robbins Road in Ellendale.

• What Happened: Investigators determined that 74-year-old Walter Moorhead of Salisbury, Maryland, was hunting deer from a ground blind. Believing he saw a deer, Moorhead fired his rifle into the field.

• The Victim: The bullet struck a 39-year-old woman from Georgetown, Delaware, who was walking through the field accompanied by a man and two children. Troopers rendered emergency first aid before she was transported to an area hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Her identity was withheld pending family notification. None of the other individuals walking with her were reported injured.

• Charges and Legal Status: State police arrested Moorhead at the scene. He was charged with:

  • Manslaughter (recklessly causing the death of another person)

  • Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony

  • Three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment

• Current Status: Following arraignment in the Justice of the Peace Court, Moorhead was released after posting a $43,000 cash bond. The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit is continuing to investigate the case.